Ted Gostin

Professional Genealogist

Welcome to the home page of Ted Gostin! I am a professional genealogist with
over 37
years experience. Regardless of whether you are a beginner or an experienced
genealogist, I may be able to help you reach your research goals. I am available
for research on families from all geographic regions, but my specialties include Jewish
genealogy, Central and Eastern European research, and Southern California resources.
I am also the the owner of Generations Press, and the heir search firm Gostin
Research Associates. I am a longtime member of the Association of Professional
Genealogists. This site provides some details about my
services, as well as some examples of the types of records I work with and can obtain for
clients. It also contains links to other parts of my business, including my publishing
company, Generations Press.

Since I live in Southern California, I naturally specialize in
genealogical research in this region. I can help clients research their family
histories in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties.
Check out this section for more information on what to expect from genealogical research
here in Southern California.

My publishing company, Generations Press, publishes books on
Jewish genealogy, Southern California resources, and immigration research. We also
sell new and used books from other publishers in the same subject areas.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Ted Gostin lectures frequently throughout Southern
California. His lecture schedule is listed below. Information on
his lectures and lecture topics can also be found on the website of the
Genealogical Speakers Guild.

Saturday,
January 6, 2018, Orange County California Genealogical Society.
11:00 - "Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor Online." 12:30 -
"Emigration Records: Tracking Immigrants from the Other Side."
The first lecture reviews a variety of immigration and emigration
databases that have become available over the Internet in the last
couple of decades. These databases have the potential to make searching
for immigrant ancestors much easier and quicker than the older microfilm
or print databases. A number of such databases are discussed in this
lecture, including the Ellis Island Database, Ancestry.com immigration
databases, FamilySearch, the Castle Garden database, and others. The
limitations of these databases are discussed, and search tips offered
for each database. The second lecture reviews how U.S.
immigration records of the 19th century are often not very informative,
and how emigration records – those documenting someone leaving Europe –
can often provide more information. This lecture reviews and illustrates
a number of different types of emigration records, including emigration
passenger lists; convict transport records; permissions to emigrate;
police registrations; and passports and passport applications, and
compare the information they contain to that in U.S. passenger lists.
Hungtington Beach Library, Rooms C & D, Lower Level, 7111 Talbot Ave.
(at Goldenwest Ave.), Huntington Beach, CA 92648. Free
Admission.

Saturday, January 20, 2018, 1:00 p.m., Ventura County Genealogical
Society. "They Became Citizens: An Overview of American
Naturalization Records." This lecture presents an overview
of United States naturalization records. The first national
naturalization law was established in 1790, and therefore this lecture
focuses on 19th and 20th century naturalization proceedings.
Naturalization procedures and forms during two basic time periods are
discussed: from 1790 to September 27, 1906; and from September 27, 1906
forward. Finding aids to naturalization records are discussed, and a
short bibliography of key works on naturalization records is provided.
Camarillo Public Library Community Room, 4101 E. Las Posas Rd.,
Camarillo, CA. Free Admission.

Wednesday,
February 21, 2018, 7:00 p.m., Genealogical Society of North Orange
County California. "Finding Vital Records Online - Beyond Ancestry
and FamilySearch."While many genealogists will stop their
search for online vital records after reviewing the commercial site
Ancestry.com and the Mormons’ FamilySearch website, there are a
multitude of other places on the internet where one might find birth,
marriage and death information. This lecture reviews and illustrates the
breadth of other vital records sources available, including other online
genealogy sites; local, county, and state level public agencies; public,
university and college libraries; newspaper websites; and historical and
genealogical societies. Yorba Linda Community Center, Imperial
Room C, 4501 Casa Loma Ave., Yorba Linda, CA 92886 (corner of
Imperial Blvd.). Free admission.

Tuesday,
February 27, 2018, 7:00 p.m., Glendora Genealogical Group. "They
Became Citizens: An Overview of American Naturalization Records."This lecture presents an overview of United States naturalization
records. The first national naturalization law was established in 1790,
and therefore this lecture focuses on 19th and 20th century
naturalization proceedings. Naturalization procedures and forms during
two basic time periods are discussed: from 1790 to September 27, 1906;
and from September 27, 1906 forward. Finding aids to naturalization
records are discussed, and a short bibliography of key works on
naturalization records is provided. La Fetra Senior Center, The
Elm/Oak Rooms, 333 E. Foothill Blvd. Glendora, Los Angeles County,
California. Free Admission.

If you'd like to know more about my research services, please send me an
e-mail by clicking on the link above. Include a description of type of research
you're interested in, as much background about your family as possible, and the details of
research you've already done. I'll put together a research proposal letting you know
what my fees are and how I might be able to help. Please be sure to include your
full name (I don't generally respond to people who don't sign their correspondence) and
let me know where you are located. Because my work load may prevent me from getting
back to you immediately, please allow 1-2 weeks for a response to your inquiry.